U.S. patent application number 10/665272 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for backrest assembly for a seating arrangement.
Invention is credited to Higgs, Steven, King, David Russell.
Application Number | 20040100135 10/665272 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28047230 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040100135 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
King, David Russell ; et
al. |
May 27, 2004 |
Backrest assembly for a seating arrangement
Abstract
A foldable apparatus for providing a surface and storage for a
person of any age to use for play or engage in activities while
mobility is being restricted having rotatable joints with locking
device and located at corresponding members for optimum space
saving. In some embodiments of this invention, the height of the
apparatus can be adjusted by operating the devices in the vertical
members of said apparatus.
Inventors: |
King, David Russell; (New
South Wales, AU) ; Higgs, Steven; (New South Wales,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
D. PETER HOCHBERG CO. L.P.A.
1940 EAST 6TH STREET
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Family ID: |
28047230 |
Appl. No.: |
10/665272 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/353 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/402 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/353 |
International
Class: |
A47C 007/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 18, 2002 |
AU |
2002951475 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A seating arrangement which comprises: a seat base; a seat back
extending upwardly from the seat base; a backrest displaceably
arranged relative to the seat base between a first, retracted
position in which the backrest is substantially in register with
the seat base and a second, extended position in which at least a
part of the backrest protrudes upwardly beyond a top edge of the
seat back; and a displacement mechanism arranged between the seat
back and the backrest, the displacement mechanism effecting
displacement of the backrest from its first position to its second
position.
2. The seating arrangement of claim 1 in which the seat base, the
seat back and the backrest each comprise an upholstered frame.
3. The seating arrangement of claim 2 in which at least the seat
back frame and the backrest frame are each box frames.
4. The seating arrangement of claim 1 which includes a locking
mechanism, the locking mechanism locking the backrest in at least
its first position relative to the seat base.
5. The seating arrangement of claim 4 in which the locking
mechanism includes an engageable member carried on one of the seat
back and the backrest, the other of the seat back and the backrest
carrying an engaging member which engages the engageable member
when the backrest is in its first position relative to the seat
back.
6. The seating arrangement of claim 5 which includes an operating
mechanism that operates the engaging member for releasing the
engageable member.
7. The seating arrangement of claim 6 in which the operating
mechanism is a concealed operating mechanism.
8. The seating arrangement of claim 1 in which the displacement
mechanism is a fluid operated displacement mechanism.
9. The seating arrangement of claim 8 in which the fluid operated
displacement mechanism is in the form of at least one pneumatic
piston/cylinder assembly.
10. The seating arrangement of claim 1 which includes a guide
means, the guide means guiding the displacement of the backrest
relative to the seat back.
11. The seating arrangement of claim 1 in which the displacement
mechanism is a concealed displacement mechanism interposed between
the seat back and the backrest, the displacement mechanism
permitting reversible displacement of the backrest from its first
position to its second position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a seating arrangement. More
particularly, the invention relates to a backrest assembly for a
seating arrangement.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] Certain modern, upholstered items of furniture have low
backrests. While conveying an attractive appearance to the item of
furniture, prolonged sitting in such furniture can cause discomfort
due to lack of support of an occupant's back. Incorrect lumbar
support can also result in medical complications, particularly with
people suffering from back problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] According to the invention; there is provided a seating
arrangement which comprises:
[0004] a seat base;
[0005] a seat back extending upwardly from the seat base;
[0006] a backrest displaceably arranged relative to the seat base
between a first, retracted position in which the backrest is
substantially in register with the seat base and a second, extended
position in which at least a part of the backrest protrudes
upwardly beyond a top edge of the seat back; and
[0007] a displacement mechanism arranged between the seat back and
the backrest, the displacement mechanism effecting displacement of
the backrest from its first position to its second position.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seating
arrangement is in the form of lounge furniture. For example, the
seating arrangement may be an armchair, a couch or sofa, or the
like. It will be appreciated that such furniture is normally
upholstered, padded furniture.
[0009] Further, such furniture normally has framework supporting
the upholstery. Accordingly, the seat base, the seat back and the
backrest may each comprise an upholstered frame. At least the seat
back frame and the backrest frame may each be box frames. If
desired, the backrest frame may carry a suspension assembly for
increasing the comfort of the backrest.
[0010] The seating arrangement may include a locking mechanism, the
locking mechanism locking the backrest in at least its first
position relative to the seat base. The locking mechanism may
include an engageable member, in the form of a locking pin, carried
on one of the seat back and the backrest, the other of the seat
back and the backrest carrying an engaging member, in the form of a
catch plate, which engages the engageable member when the backrest
is in its first position relative to the seat back. Preferably, the
locking pin is carried on the frame of the backrest with the catch
mechanism being carried on the frame of the seat back.
[0011] The seating arrangement may include an operating mechanism
that operates the engaging member for releasing the engageable
member. This enables the backrest to rise relative to the seat back
to its second, extended position under the effect of the
displacement mechanism. The operating mechanism may be a concealed
operating mechanism that includes a release cable, co-operating
with the locking mechanism, and a handle concealed beneath or
beside a cushion on the seat base.
[0012] The displacement mechanism may be a fluid operated
displacement mechanism. More particularly, the fluid operated
displacement mechanism may be in the form of at least one pneumatic
piston/cylinder assembly.
[0013] The seating arrangement may include a guide means, the guide
means guiding the displacement of the backrest relative to the seat
back. The guide means may comprise at least one and, preferably, a
pair of guide shafts extending in the direction of displacement of
the backrest relative to the seat back. A guide sleeve may be
slidably arranged on the, or each, guide shaft. Preferably, the, or
each, guide shaft is carried on the frame of the seat back with
the, or each, sleeve being carried on the frame of the backrest.
Where a pair of guide shafts and sleeves are provided, the guide
shafts may be transversely spaced with respect to each other.
[0014] Preferably, the displacement mechanism is a concealed
displacement mechanism interposed between the seat back and the
backrest, the displacement mechanism permitting reversible
displacement of the backrest from its first position to its second
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention is now described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional, front view of a seating
arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional, front view of a part of
the seating arrangement of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional, bottom view of a locking
mechanism of the seating arrangement;
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of a displacement
mechanism of the seating arrangement; and
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of a guide means of
the seating arrangement.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a
seating arrangement, in the form of a sofa, in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention. The sofa 10 comprises a seat base 12.
A seat back, which is indicated at 14 in FIG. 2 of the drawings,
extends upwardly from a rear edge of the seat base 12.
[0022] A backrest 16 is displaceably arranged relative to the seat
back 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the sofa 10 has two
independently displaceable backrests 16. The seat back 14 is,
correspondingly, divided into two parts, one associated with each
backrest 16. It will be appreciated, however, that the invention is
equally applicable to seating arrangements having a one-piece seat
back and/or backrest.
[0023] As illustrated more clearly in FIG. 2 of the drawings, each
part of the seat back 14 has a box frame 18 carrying padding and
upholstery (not shown). Similarly, each backrest 16 has a shaped
box frame 20 which carries padding and upholstery. In addition, the
frame 20 of each backrest 16 carries a suspension assembly anchored
at points 22. The suspension assembly is omitted for the sake of
clarity but is a commercially available suspension assembly such as
that sold under the Registered Trade Mark, Pullmaflex (Pullmaflex
is a Registered Trade Mark of Leggett-Platt Inc., a USA
company).
[0024] Each backrest 16 is displaceably arranged relative to its
associated part of the seat back 14 between a first, retracted
position in which a bottom of the backrest 16 is received between
the seat base 12 and the seat back 14 and a second, extended
position, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, where a top of the
backrest 16 stands proud of, and extends above, a top of the seat
back 14.
[0025] The sofa 10 includes a fluid-operated displacement mechanism
in the form of a pneumatic piston/cylinder assembly 24. A
piston/cylinder assembly 24 is associated with each backrest 16 and
is interposed between the backrest 16 and its associated seat back
14. One end 24.1 of the piston/cylinder assembly 24 is secured to a
gusset plate 26 at a rear of the frame 20 of the backrest 16. An
opposed end 24.2 of the assembly 24 is secured to a housing 28 on a
cross member 29 at a bottom of the front of the frame 18 of the
seat back 14.
[0026] The housing 28 houses a locking mechanism 30 (FIG. 3) which
locks the backrest 16 in its retracted position relative to the
seat back 14.
[0027] The locking mechanism 30 includes a locking pin 32 (FIGS. 3
and 4) carried on a cross member 34 of the frame 20 of the backrest
16. The locking pin 32 has a circumferential groove 32.1 formed in
its periphery. A catch plate 36 is pivotally mounted in the housing
28 to pivot in a plane in which the catch plate 36 lies. An urging
means, in the form of a spring 38, biases the catch plate 36
towards one side of the housing 28, as shown in FIG. 3 of the
drawings, so that the catch plate 36 is received in a part of the
groove 32.1 of the locking pin 32 in a rest position of the catch
plate 36.
[0028] An operating mechanism, comprising a cable 40 and a handle
(not shown), acts on the locking mechanism 30. One end of the cable
40 is secured to the catch plate 36 with the other end of the cable
40 being secured to the handle. The cable 40 and the handle are
concealed behind or beneath a cushion of the seat base 12 of the
sofa 10.
[0029] A pair of transversely spaced guide bars 42 of a guide means
is carried on the frame 18 of the seat back 14. Each guide bar 42
slidably receives a sleeve 44, carried on the frame 20 of the
backrest 16. The guide bars 42 and guide sleeves 44 serve to
inhibit skewing of the backrest 16 relative to the seat back 14 as
the backrest 16 is displaced relative to the seat back 14.
[0030] In use, the backrest 16, in its retracted position, lies
substantially in register with the seat back 14 to provide a
modern, low-backed appearance to the sofa 10. The backrest 16 is
held in its retracted position by the catch plate 36 of the locking
mechanism 30 engaging the groove of the locking pin 32.
[0031] When it is desired to support a higher lumbar region of a
person's back, when the person is seated on the sofa 10, the
operating mechanism is operated. This is effected by pulling the
cable 40 in the direction of arrow 46. When this occurs, the catch
plate 36 is pivoted against the action of the spring 38 to clear
the groove of the locking pin 32 to release the locking pin 32. The
backrest 16 rises under the action of the pneumatic piston/cylinder
assembly 24 to the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
[0032] In this position, the backrest 16 supports the person's back
in a higher region of the person's back.
[0033] When it is desired to return the backrest 16 to its
retracted position 14, pressure is applied to the top of the
backrest 16 to urge the backrest 16 downwardly, against the action
of the piston/cylinder assembly 24, until the locking pin 32 is
engaged and is locked by the locking plate 36.
[0034] It is a particular advantage of the invention that a seating
arrangement 10 is provided which, while having an attractive,
modern appearance when the backrest 16 is in a retracted position,
provides a more orthopaedically suitable support when the backrest
16 is in a raised position relative to the backrest 14. The use of
the pneumatic piston/cylinder assembly 24 provides an appealing,
damped motion to the backrest 16 when it rises relative to the seat
back 14. Further, the use of this assembly 24 reduces the effort
required to raise the backrest 16 relative to the seat back 14 and
facilitates the returning of the backrest 16 to its retracted
position.
[0035] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the
invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing
from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The
present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *